Agenda item

Police & Crime Plans are a statutory requirement for all police force areas introduced as part of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner is required to issue a new Police & Crime Plan “as soon as practicable” after taking office. The Police and Crime Panel are asked to review the draft police and crime plan and make any recommendations as necessary. 

Key points raised during the discussions:

1.    The Police and Crime Commissioner introduced his draft Police and Crime Plan for Surrey and highlighted that the points within this had been derived from his election campaign. He informed the Panel that he had undertaken extensive consultation with Surrey Police and residents as a result of these robust discussions he had made changes. He stated that he would like to publish the plan as soon as possible to inform residents and that he planned to undertake a major refresh of the plan next year in order to ensure that it remained a living document. He then ran through the six points within the plan and invited Panel Members to ask questions on the content.

2.    Panel Members raised concerns about Community Safety Partnerships and funding for these going forward along with the successful junior citizenship scheme. They were informed that service level agreements were being drawn up and that this would be addressed as soon as possible.

3.    Discussions around visible policing took place and the Panel were informed that a review of this had begun specifically looking at the policing in your neighbourhood programme (PiYN). It was agreed that this needed to be imbedded for front line police officers as they would be asked to do more in order to ensure continuity for victims improved. It was felt that the Joint Enforcement Teams (JETs) were working well however there were concerns in some boroughs. The PCC stated that a review of the PiYN programme would be undertaken and JET programmes would be tailored to each district and borough that had interest in coming on board.

4.    Rural crime and the long standing issues with the 101 telephone number were raised and the Panel felt that it was essential that this issue was addressed across the whole of Surrey. The Police and Crime Commissioner was invited to visit one of the rural areas to see how policing was working there.

5.    Further information on the changes to the Commissioner’s staff was requested particularly in relation to who will lead on ethnic and diversity issues and victim support. The Panel were told that the Commissioner was ultimately responsible and will personally lead on these areas across all communities in the County.

6.    The Panel asked for more information on collaboration with Sussex Police and for an indication of where new savings could be found. They were informed that a joint estates strategy of both forces would be looked at to see if there was any scope to rationalise these.

7.    Members queried police attendance at community meetings and the importance of stability and partnership working. The Commissioner responded by saying that the police cannot attend every meeting however it was important that the balance was right and that it was best use of their time. The PCC stated that when Police did attend public meetings it was important that they were given due respect for taking the time out to attend.

8.    Cyber crime was discussed and it was felt that Surrey Police had a good awareness of this.

[Councillor Graham Ellwood left the meeting at 11.20am]

9.    The Panel requested that further information be provided on the number of staff in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and information on remuneration.

10.  The future of collaboration between the Police and the Fire and Rescue Service was discussed and it was agreed this would be dependent on central government changes.

11.  The importance of the role of Special Constables and cadets was raised and the Panel were informed that there would be a cadet programme being launched shortly and that Surrey Police were keen to employ more Special Constables going forward.

12.  Panel Members raised concerns about CCTV funding and the Commissioner agreed to report back on this at a future meeting.

13.  Reassurance on preparedness against the threat of terrorism was sought by the Panel and the Commissioner stated that he would ensure that additional funding supplied by government for this issue was being spent appropriately.

14.  The Commissioner thanked the Panel for their comments and informed them that following their discussions he would distribute his Police and Crime Plan for Surrey.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel noted the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Draft Police and Crime Plan for Surrey.

ACTIONS/ FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:

R6/16              For the PCC to provide the panel with details of the number of OPCC staff and their salaries.

R7/16              For an item on the use of CCTV and funding for CCTV to be added to the Panels forward work programme.